Kirabira, Jonsson and Byaruhanga

Beneficiation and Evaluation of Mutaka kaolin

John Baptist Kirabira1, Stefan Jonsson2, Joseph K. Byaruhanga3
1

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, Makerere University, P.O. Box

7062, Kampala, Uganda
Corresponding author email: jbkirabira@tech.mak.ac.ug
2
Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH),
Brinellvgen 23, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden

ABSTRACT
Kaolin is an important industrial mineral which often needs upgrading for special applications.
The upgrading process, commonly known as beneficiation, is aimed at removing impurities like
feldspar, quartz, iron oxide, etc. In this study, a kaolin sample was collected from a deposit
located at Mutaka, South-Western Uganda, the biggest kaolin deposit in the country. With the
aim of upgrading this sample, it was processed by a laboratory hydro cyclone to produce a
kaolinite concentrate and this has been characterized to ascertain its use as an industrial raw
material. Characterization of the beneficiated sample was carried out by XRD, SEM, particle-size
distribution, density and volume measurements, chemical analysis, whiteness index test, thermal
analysis (DTA/TG) and surface area measurements. Results show that the laboratory
beneficiation exercise improves the kaolin sample to a very high grade with a chemical
composition close to that of ideal kaolinite. The major impurity after beneficiation, iron oxide,
was further reduced by acid leaching. Results show that the properties of the final product are
close to that of ideal kaolin.
Keywords: Beneficiation, Kaolin, Mutaka kaolin, Particle size distribution.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
Kaolin is a soft, white, plastic clay consisting principally of kaolinite, which is a well ordered
hydrated aluminium silicate Al2Si2O5(OH)4. It is formed by the alteration of granitoid rocks,
mainly feldspar and muscovite. Naturally, kaolin occurs with impurities, which have to be
removed for most of its commercial application, particularly in the paper filling and coating
applications. The two principal objectives of kaolin beneficiation are the removal of impurities
and production of a desired particle size distribution. Mineralogically and chemically, kaolins
contain quartz as the major impurity and iron (in form of Fe2O3) and titania (in form of anatase)
as minor impurities (Carty, et al 1998; Murray and Keller, 1993; Pinheiro, et al, 2005). The
presence of impurities, particularly iron and titania bearing minerals, imparts colour to kaolin
(low brightness) and are detrimental in most kaolin applications.
Basically, two different processes are used in beneficiating of kaolin a dry process and a wet
process. The dry process is the simpler and less expensive of the two but yields a lower quality
product. In the dry process, kaolin is crushed, dried, pulverized and air floated. The air floating
process removes most of the coarse particles from the fine ones, but in order to really obtain a
high quality product, the wet process must be used. Consequently, the latter process was used in
the present work.
2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS
2.1 Sample Preparation and Examination
Mutaka is situated approximately on latitude 9922000N and longitude 171000E within sheet
85/1, Bushenyi, USD series. Approximately 4 tonnes of raw kaolin was collected from Mutaka

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south-western Uganda. A representative sample weighing 130 kg was used for the beneficiation
process. Visual examination of the raw sample revealed the presence of fragments of quartz,
muscovite, weathered iron oxide and clay. The lot was screened at 2.36 mm in order to remove
the larger particles. Thus all further investigations were performed on the remaining size fraction
below 2.36 mm weighing approximately 100 kg. Using riffles and following ISO/CD 14488
procedures, a uniformly distributed representative sample of 0.6 kg was split from the big sample.
The small sample was used for determining the particle size distribution by sieve analysis. The
big sample was beneficiated, as described below.
2.2 Size classification
A combination of wet screening and hydro cycloning was used. The 100 kg sample with size
fractions less than 2.36 mm was attrition scrubbed to make it ready for the hydro cyclone test rig.
The fraction was fed into a receiving cone of a laboratory 2-inch stub hydro cyclone test rig and
water was added to make a pulp of 16% solids. The pulp was left to run for ten minutes to allow
for scrubbing action on the material before collection of the cyclone products. The pressure was
set to 0.21 MPa (30 Psi) and the spigot was 6.3 mm. The vortex finder was set to 11.1 mm. The
under size from the screening operation was fed into a hydro classifier (rougher-stage). From its
overflow, a product rich in kaolin, was collected and fed to another cleaner hydro classifier. There
it was further processed in order to obtain a cleaner product. The underflow fraction normally
consists of sand and other heavy mineral impurities but also contains an appreciable amount of
kaolin. In order to recover this kaolin it was fed into a scavenger which completes the kaolin
extraction from the waste. The extracted kaolin from the scavenger was fed into the rougher
hydro classifier stage together with the underflow fraction from the cleaner stage.
2.3 Removal of Iron Oxide
According to chemical analysis results, the beneficiated kaolin contained iron oxide as the main
impurity. In order to explore the possibility of reducing the iron oxide content, about 200 g were
leached with oxalic acid of concentration of 40 kgm-3. The mixture was maintained at 80C for 5h
while stirring. It was then filtered and dried at 110C.
2.4 Characterization of the beneficiated sample
The chemical composition was determined by Analytica AB, Lule, Sweden according to the
standard analysis package G-2. The powders were first dried at 105C according to Swedish
Standard SS 028113. Then, 0.125 g dried powder was smelted with 0.375 g LiBO2 and dissolved
in 5% HNO3 before the metal content was determined using Induced Coupled Plasma-Atomic
Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The loss on ignition was determined by heating to 1000oC for
two hours. For mineralogical properties, a randomly oriented powder-mount was scanned over
the range 12 to 60 2 using a Philips X-ray Diffractometer, PW 1130/90, with Ni-filtered K Curadiation, operated at 40 kV and 30 mA. An energy dispersive detector of type Kevex was used.
The collimator and receiving slits were set to 1 and 0.1, respectively. The sample morphology
was observed by a Field Electron Gun Scanning Electron Microscope (FEG-SEM), LEO 1530
with a GEMINI column. A thin layer of carbon was coated on to the powders in order to enhance
conductivity and avoid charging when exposed to the electron beam. Particle size distribution was
determined using a BI-90 particle sizer. Portions from the powder samples were ultrasonically
mixed with water for 2 minutes in order to crush agglomerates. A small amount of a surfactant,
Dispex A40, was added to keep the particles in suspension. 2 ml of the suspension was filled in a
transparent container and analyzed for particle size distribution. The multipoint Brunauer,
Emmett and Teller (BET) technique was used to measure the total surface area with a
Micromeritics Gemini 2370 system. The gas adsorptions at multipoint partial pressures of
nitrogen gas were determined. The density determination was carried out on a Pycnometer, Accu
Pyc 1330. The samples were first weighed and dried in the sample holder at 120C for 30

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Kirabira, Jonsson and Byaruhanga

minutes. Then, the samples were weighed again and the volumes were measured by pumping in
He gas to a pressure of 2 bar. For each sample, five cycles were taken and an average was
automatically calculated by the Pycnometer.
Thermoanalytical characterization was done using a NETZSCH STA 449C Jupiter DTA/TG
calorimeter in a temperature interval of 20 - 1620oC in static air.
Whiteness index tests were carried out in accordance with SCAN-P 89:03 using a Lweropho
reflectometer at STFI-Packforsk AB, Stockholm, Sweden. According to the standard, the
investigated powders were milled, dried and pressed into tablets. For each sample five tablets
were prepared and characterized. The average values were reported.
3. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
3.1 Chemical analysis
The chemical composition of raw, of beneficiated and of beneficiated and leached samples as
determined by ICP-AES is summarized in Table 1. The major oxides detected are the components
of the kaolinite formula i.e. Al2O3, SiO2 and H2O (LoI). Only small amounts of other oxides,
predominantly Fe2O3 and K2O were detected. It can be seen that the beneficiation process
improves the quality of the raw kaolin to almost pure kaolin. The beneficiated sample has a
deficit of only 0.30% Al2O3, 1.35% SiO2 and 0.25% H2O. The sum of the main impurities, K2O,
Fe2O3 and CaO is limited to 1.3%, only. It is unfortunate that the composition of Fe2O3 increases
from 0.238 to 0.417% but still this is a low value. Typically, kaolin with less than 1% Fe2O3 is
considered to be a good quality for a variety of applications. Thus, most important is the increase
of the Al2O3 content from 36.0 to 39.2% and the SiO2 decrease from 48.8 to 45.2%. These
changes bring the beneficiated product very close to pure kaolinite. The reason for increasing iron
oxide during beneficiation may be associated to the impurity bearing compounds that are part of
the fine fraction of the beneficiated sample and cannot be removed mechanically. Consequently,
acid leaching was attempted for reducing iron oxide from the beneficiated kaolin. The chemical
analysis confirms a substantial reduction as is shown in Table1.
Table 1: Chemical composition in wt % of raw, of beneficiated and of beneficiated and acid
leached Mutaka kaolin compared to pure, ideal kaolin.

Oxide
SiO2
Al2O3
CaO
Fe2O3
MgO
K2O
MnO2
Na2O
TiO2
P2O5
LoI [wt %]

Raw
48.800
36.000
<0.090
0.238
0.038
1.140
0.028
0.048
0.004
0.009
12.600

Beneficiated
45.200
39.200
0.135
0.417
0.059
0.760
0.012
<0.040
0.012
0.022
13.700

Beneficiated
and acid
leached
47.600
39.100
<0.100
0.149
0.051
0.821
0.011
0.058
0.016
0.023
13.500

Ideal
46.550
39.500
13.950

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3.2 Mineralogical analysis
Figure 1 shows the XRD patterns of the raw and beneficiated kaolin samples. The patterns reveal
that the two samples are essentially dominated by kaolinite, with the strong peaks at 2 = 12.68,
d=6.98 ; 25.1, d=3.54 ; 38.7, d=2.33 . These patterns are typical for kaolin minerals, as
shown by previous investigators on kaolins (Ekosse, 2000; Murray and Keller, 1993).
12000
10000

K - Kaolin
M - Muscovite

8000

4000

K
K K

6000

M
K

KK
M

Beneficiated
K

K
K K
2000

KK

Raw

M
20

30

40

50

60

2 Theta [ ]

Figure 1: XRD scans of raw and beneficiated Mutaka kaolin. For clarity, the latter curve is
vertically displaced by 4000 units.
3.3 Microstructure of the kaolin concentrate
The morphologies of the raw and beneficiated samples from SEM investigations are displayed in
Error! Reference source not found.Figure 3, respectively. As seen, the raw Mutaka kaolin shows a highly layered platy-structure of
thin lamellae packed in larger aggregates. This layering is typical of many types of primary kaolin
(Murray and Keller, 1993). The micrograph also reveals that the structure of Mutaka kaolin
includes loosely agglomerated minute crystals, of rather consistent size and pseudo hexagonal
shape. Apparently, the beneficiated kaolin sample displays similar lamellae compared to the raw
kaolin. This shows that the beneficiation process essentially leaves the lamellar structure
impervious. Instead, separation occurs on a larger length scale.

Figure 2: SEM image (SE) of raw Mutaka

kaolin

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Figure 3: SEM image (SE) of beneficiated

Mutaka kaolin

Kirabira, Jonsson and Byaruhanga

3.4 Sieve analysis and particle size distribution using BI-90
The accumulated weights passing through a series of sieves (2360 20 m) are fitted to an
Avrami equation i.e.
Vacc 1 exp( Kd n )
(1)
where Vacc denotes accumulated weights and d, the sieve diameter. K and n are parameters used to
fit the experimental information.
Figure 4 shows Avrami plots of the sieve analyses of the hydro cyclone products of Mutaka
kaolin. The plots show good fitting to the experimental information with correlation factors of R2
> 0.98. The intersection with the dashed line indicates the equivalent diameter for 90% volume
fraction, d90. At that diameter, 90% of the volume fraction has smaller particle diameter. The
equivalent diameters are given in
Table 2. The sieve analyses show that the raw kaolin has the largest particle fraction followed by
the intermediate hydro-cyclone products and finally the beneficiated kaolin. The beneficiation
changes the d90 from 1157 to 48 m. The slope of the beneficiated kaolin is somewhat less than
for the raw kaolin, indicating that the size distribution has essentially moved to finer particles
with a small widening in the distribution curve, only.
0.5

0.8
0.6

0.0
0.4
0.2

-0.5

0.0

-1.0

-0.2
Raw
OF-HC1
UF-HC2
OF-HC2

-0.4
-0.6
-0.8
1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

-1.5
raw
beneficiated
-2.0
2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

3.0

3.1

3.2

log(d), [nm]

log(sieve diameter), [ m]

Figure 4: Avrami plot of sieve analysis of

raw and hydrocyclone products of Mutaka
kaolin.

Figure 5: Avrami plot of particle size distribution (BI90) of raw and beneficiated Mutaka kaolin.

The BI-90 analyses show that the beneficiation process has little effect on the suspended particle
distribution. A small increase in d90 from 1148 to 1329 nm has occurred. The slope is somewhat
less indicating that the size distribution has widened moderately.
Table 2: Density, equivalent diameters, d90, and specific surface area

Property
Density, (gcm-3)
Sieve analysis d90, (m)
BI-90, d90, (nm)
Spec. surf. Area (m2g-1)

Raw
2.643
1157
1148
16.498

OF-HC1
496
-

UF-HC2
120
-

OF-HC2 /benef.
2.828
48
1329
14.330

3.5 Specific surface area

The specific surface area measured by BET and taking a multipoint surface is 14.33 m2g-1 for the
beneficiated sample, as compared to 16.498 m2g-1 for the raw kaolin sample. See

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Table 2. The decrease is difficult to explain since the morphology on the fine scale is quite
similar. See Error! Reference source not found. and
Figure 3.
3.6 Density

The density of the beneficiated kaolin is 2.828 gcm-3 as compared to 2.643 gcm-3 for the
raw kaolin, see Table 2. This weight increase is most probably a direct result from the
increase in Al2O3 content accompanied by the simultaneous decrease in SiO2 content
during beneficiation.
3.7 Thermal analytical analysis
Figure 6 reveals the DTA and TG curves for the beneficiated kaolin sample. In the current study,
one endothermic peak is observed at around 530C of the DTA curve, and an exothermic one at
1003C. These results corroborate well with previous researchers investigating transformation of
kaolin during heating (Kirabira, et al, 2004; Chen and Tuan, 2001; Chen, et al, 2000 (a); Chen, et
al, 2000 (b); Chin-Yi and Wei-Hsing, 2002; Chandrasekhar and Ramaswamy 2002; Kirabira, et
al, 2003; Yung-Feng et al, 2004; Pask and Tomsia, 1991; Chandrasekhar and S. Ramaswamy,
2006). The TG curve, shows a weight loss of about 13.0%, which corresponds to the
endothermic peak at 530C. The weight loss in the TG analysis is close to the corresponding LoI
(13.7%) of the beneficiated sample, see Table 1.
104

0 .6

102

0 .4

100

D TA

98

0 .2
0 .0

96

f o r m a t i o n o f m u ll i te

-0.2

94

-0.4

92

-0.6
TG

90

-0.8

88

-1.0

d e h y d r o x y la t i o n

86
200

400

6 00

8 00

-1.2
1000

12 00

1400

1600

T e m p e r a tu re [ C ]

Figure 6: DTA/TG signals of beneficiated Mutaka kaolin sample during heating

3.9 Whiteness Index
The results from the whiteness index test are given in Table 3. As seen, the beneficiation reduces
the brightness which confirms the increase in iron oxide reported by chemical analyses. However,
acid leaching almost fully restores the brightness.
Table 3: Whiteness Index of Mutaka kaolin powders

Sample powder
Raw
Beneficiated
Beneficiated and acid leached

ISO brightness (R 457)

84.53
69.95
81.37

Y-value
89.44
79.83
85.02

4.0 CONCLUSIONS
Mutaka kaolin is a kaolinite-rich mineral that has muscovite and other feldsparthic materials as
the major impurities. In the present work, a successful beneficiation of Mutaka kaolin was
achieved through a mechanical process of particle separation based on a wet classification
method. The iron bearing impurity, Fe2O3, seems to concentrate in the fine fraction of the kaolin
mineral. The chemical composition of the kaolin has improved with the alumina content
increasing from 36.0% to 39.2% and with that of silica decreasing from 48.8% to 45.2%. The
beneficiation of the kaolin improves it to a suitable grade for filler material, especially in paints,

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Kirabira, Jonsson and Byaruhanga

pharmaceuticals, ceramic porcelain and related traditional and engineering ceramics. It is
demonstrated that acid leaching can improve the quality of the product further. However, for
refractory applications, there is no need to beneficiate this kaolin because it can be used in its raw
form and upgrading it further would only add an unnecessarily big production cost.
5.0 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors of this paper would like to appreciate the financial support from Sida - Makerere
University Research Collaborative Programme for fully financing this work. They are also
grateful to the following collaborating Institutions; Royal Institute of Technology (KTH),
Sweden, Department of Geological Survey and mines, Entebbe, Uganda, Department of Materials
Engineering, University of Dar es Salaam, Southern and the Eastern Mineral Research Institute
(SEAMIC), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and the School of Graduate Studies, Makerere University,
Kampala, Uganda.
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